The 2024 men's Olympic basketball has no shortage of superstars from across the basketball world, converging in Paris.
Headlined by a star-studded Team USA looking to continue their Olympic dominance, a host nation of France in search of their first Olympic gold in men's basketball, and reigning World champions Germany out to make it back-to-back tournament wins.
The Australian Boomers won their first-ever medal in men's basketball in Tokyo and find themselves in a tricky group alongside Spain, Greece and Canada, but with a talented group of players on deck, Patty Mills, Josh Giddey and co. will no doubt be confident they can repeat their efforts from three years ago this time around in Paris.
MORE: Team USA found its answer for Nikola Jokic — and it's not Joel Embiid
The Sporting News breaks down the medal favourites, sleepers and odds below
2024 Men's Olympic basketball Gold medal odds
| Team | Odds |
| USA | $1.15 |
| Canada | $12 |
| Serbia | $15 |
| France | $15 |
| Germany | $17 |
| Greece | $34 |
| Australia | $34 |
| Spain | $51 |
| Brazil | $101 |
| South Sudan | $151 |
| Puerto Rico | $201 |
| Japan | $251 |
Boomers odds to advance from Group Stage
The Boomers come into the Paris Olympics off the back of two impressive exhibition results — first a 98-92 loss to Team USA, followed up by a convincing 84-73 victory over Nikola Jokic and Serbia.
Nasty Patty Mills' pass leads to the deep Dyson Daniels' 3 🔥
— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024
Australia-Serbia | Live on NBA App
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While they have their work cut out for them in the aptly labeled 'Group of Death' alongside Canada, Spain and Greece, the oddsmakers have them as the second favourite to win the group behind Canada.
With five-time Olympians Patty Mills and Joe Ingles leading the charge, alongside youngsters Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Josh Green and Jock Landale, the Boomers have plenty of talent and experience to make a run in Paris.
The absence of Matisse Thybulle — who wasn't selected for the 12-man squad — made headlines ahead of the two-game stint in Abu Dhabi, but with Daniels emerging as a key contributor for the Boomers, alongisde the wing depth of Green and Dante Exum, Australia looks to have the tools defensively to match-up with the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
| Team | Odds |
| Canada | $1.65 |
| Australia | $4.50 |
| Greece | $5 |
| Spain | $9 |
The favourites: Team USA by a longshot
After a disappointing fourth-place finish at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the United States made the call to assemble the Avengers, bringing a star-studded team to Paris to restore order to the basketball world.
Headlined by Team USA's all-time leading scorer Kevin Durant, two-time gold medalist LeBron James, and Olympic debutant Stephen Curry. the American's aren't messing around in 2024.
MORE: Ranking Team USA's players at the pre-Olympics midway point
Winners of four consecutive Olympic gold medals and seven of the last eight, it will take a next-level performance from a rival country to knock the USA off their perch.
However, that team might just be north of the border...
Sleeper: Canada's golden generation has arrived
Led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jamal Murray, RJ Barrett, and everyone's favourite villain Dillon Brooks, Canada is rightfully the second-favourite (tied with Serbia) to win it all in Paris.
Canada's showing at the 2023 FIBA World Cup put the world on notice that the sleeping giant of international basketball has found its feet and with 10 active NBA players on the roster, they are one of the few teams that can match the depth of the USA.
Making their first trip to the Olympics since Sydney 2000, Canada's national team has long-threatened to emerge as the main threat to Team USA, and they enter the Games in Paris with plenty of confidence they can do just that.
"At the end of the day, they're basketball players," Gilgeous-Alexander said of team USA.
"Now, they may be some of the best in the world but our team has some of the best in the world as well and we don't fear any of them."
Home cooking: Wembanyama primed to lead France
France has never won an Olympic gold medal in men's basketball. They've also never had Victor Wembanyama on their squad.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year presents a tough matchup for most teams at the best of time, but when you add in the FIBA rules — no defensive three seconds and a live rim — his alien-like abilities are extrapolated.
Joining national team mainstays Rudy Gobert and Evan Fournier, Wembanyama will be out to help the French team go one better than their silver medal in Tokyo.
At $13, on home soil, there's value in backing France to cause an upset.
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